Stephen A. on the Simmons-Harden trade: Brooklyn CLEARLY won this trade! | First Take

Stephen A. Smith and Monica McNutt discuss the impact Ben Simmons will have with the Brooklyn Nets after being involved in a trade for James Harden.

[persistentlypathetic]

Stephen A has said this like 5 times already, we already heard his take on the trade.

[jsgr]

Seth curry is so underrated. He's what makes this trade go in the nets favor. When Joe Harris comes back, this team can shoot the lights out! (Durant, Irving, Harris, Mills Curry)Simmons just need to facilitate and play d. Drummond also is a decent addition for this year

[starathlete]

Drummond was so good protecting the rim.

[UnrulyRebel-hdpl]

That's what I'm saying people seem to forgot that man was in the top 2 run for DPOY and he is an amazing defensive player, nets have KD, Kyrie, Seth, Patty Mills etc they don't need Simmons to shoot at all

[longsalad]

Correction: BOTH TEAMS clearly won!
Been saying it since it happened and will continue to say it. It’s so obvious both improved significantly

[johnpestano]

Ben on the nets 🔥 playmaking, defense, athleticism just like SAS said it's a natural fit.

[MrShanester]

People spent months talking about how Ben Simmons was a scrub and a terrible garbage player. Now those same people are saying the Nets won the trade.
It’s hilarious to me

[philly_sports]

I have no idea how you can say either team “won” the trade when neither Harden or Simmons has even played yet. Typical Stephen A BS.

[cosmicalejandro]

he doe not need to score, all this team needed was a playmaker, defense and rebound. He has it all

[jlubs]

3 weeks ago uou literally said Sixers are wasting Embiids prime. Now Brooklyn clearly won the trade cmon Stephen

[OnlyHTMRK]

Stephen "I voted for ben simmons as defensive player of the year last year" A. Smith

[isaac-shapiro]

A SAS take that actually makes sense for once lol

[iTuber]

go look at what Giannis did the few times Ben Simmons guarded him(bullied and dunked on his head a few times)

[kingdunken]

If Ben didn't have an impact in Philly then he's not gonna have an impact on the nets

[melfox]

Exactly. Simmons' defensive ability helps the Nets to let KD and Kyrie focus on the offensive end like Curry (completely) and Thompson (partly) with Green protecting the paint (and being the defensive vocal leader).
If you compare Simmons, he has the potential to be somewhere between Giannis and Draymond. And both of them are poor or at best mediocre shooters.
So the fit is huge. My only concerns are health for KD and leadership for the team in general.
The good part of it: the NBA has become more unpredictable since 2019 and it's quite entertaining to have many teams with reasonable expectations.
My order for 2022 champion:
1st: Golden State
2nd: Milwaukee
3rd: Phoenix
4th: Philly
5th: Memphis
6th: Brooklyn (probably top 3 in 2023)

[johnpestano]

No doubt it I've been saying it BKN got most out of this deal both short and long term Philly got fleeced.

[kylek]

Daryl Morey is a god. He really made everyone forget about playoff Ben.

[clutchbuckets]

Bro for the last week you've said the same thing over and over again! Both teams win! They both got what they needed to improve their title odds.

[chasers]

People really forget the type of player Ben Simmons is. Yea dude can’t shoot, but aside from that dude has it all. And don’t forget y’all bozo where comparing Ben Simmons to lebron

[onidtubes]

Did anybody see Drummond and Seth Curry play yesterday? Morey is punching the air right now.